Air operated garment press having two different pressing pressures



April 16, 1957 c. A. KETCHUM AIR OPERATED GARMENT PRESS HAVING TWODIFFERENT PRESSING PRESSURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1952INVENTOR.

CLARENCE A. Ke'rcnun Apnl 16, 1957 c. A. KETCHUM 2,788,769

AIR OPERATED GARMENT PRESS HAVING TWO DIFFERENT PRESSING PRESSURES FiledDec. 23. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. V CLARE/k6 A. Kart/10M BY @44WM&%4-

United States Patent O AIR OPERATED GARMENT PRESS HAVING TWO DIFFERENTPRESSING PRESSURES Clarence A. Ketchum, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor toThe American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application December 23, 1952, Serial No. 327,524

11 Claims. (Cl. 121-38) This invention relates to improvements in agarment press and more particularly to a garment press having a closingand low pressing pressure means and an increased pressure pressingmeans.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a garmentpress having means for closing the press and exerting a relatively lowpressing pressure and having means for exerting a higher pressingpressure when in the closed position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pressureoperated garment press with means for closing the press and exerting arelatively low pressing pressure by a low fluid pressure and means forexerting a higher pressing pressure by a high fluid pressure when thepress is closed and means for preventing the closing of the press fromits open position by only the high fluid pressure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pressureoperated garment press with means for closing the press and exerting arelatively low pressing pressure by a low fluid pressure and means forexerting a higher pressing pressure by a high fluid pressure when thepress is being closed and means for preventing normal closing of thepress by the low fluid pressure if the high fluid pressure is beingused.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pressureoperated garment press with means for closing the press and exerting arelatively low pressing pressure by a low fluid pressure and means forexerting a higher pressing pressure by a high fluid pressure when thepress is being closed and means permitting release of the first meanswhen the high fluid pressure is being used and the press is closed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a garment pressoperated by fluid pressure and having the fluid pressure controlcharacterized by its structural simplicity and ease of operation withsafety under all conditions.

Other features of this invention reside in the arrangement and design ofthe parts for carrying out their appropriate functions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and description and the essential features will beset forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fluid pressure operated garmentpress constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the pressing head member;while Fig. 3 is a diagram of the fluid pressure control for the garmentpress in Fig. 1.

Before the garment press and its control here illustrated isspecifically described, it is to be understood that the invention hereinvolved is not limited to the structural details or arrangement ofparts here shown since garment presses and controls embodying thepresent invention may take various forms. It also is to be understoodthat the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for purposes ofdescription and not of limitation since the scope of the presentinvention is denoted by the appended claims.

The garment press in Fig. l broadly includes a pressing buck member 10,having a padded construction and be ing fixed to a frame 11, andincludes a swingable pressing head member 12 secured to the distal endof a head lever 13 which in turn is pivotally mounted to the frame 11 atpivot 14. This pressing head member 12 is swingable between an idle,normal, or open first position spaced from the stationary buck member10, as shown in Fig. 1 in the drawings, and a working or closed secondposition with the head member 12 exerting a pressing pressure againstthe stationary buck member 10.

A mechanism is provided for moving the head member 12 between these twopositions. It includes a toggle wherein the lower toggle link is formedby a bell crank 17 and the upper toggle link is formed by toggle link 20pivotally connected to the bell crank 17. The bell crank 17 is pivotallyconnected at 18 to the frame so that one arm of the bell crank ispivotally connected to the toggle link 20 at 22 while the other arm ispivotally connected to a power means, generally shown as 19, for movingthe head member 12 from its idle, first position in Fig. 1 to a closedor working, second position exerting pres sure against the stationarybuck member 10. The upper toggle link 20 is pivotally connected to thehead lever 13 at pivot point 21. This pivot point 21 is adjustable withrespect to head lever 13 to allow for varying the compression betweenthe pressing members 10, 12 and for compensating for worn padding on thebuck member or head member 10 or 12. Pivot point 21 is at the end of anadjustment lever 23 pivoted within the head lever 13 at pivot point 24and is adjustable by means of screw 25 on the other end of adjustmentlever 23 threaded into head lever 13.

The swingable head pressing member 12 can be easily moved from its idle,normal, first position shown in Fig. 1 to its working position whereinit exerts a pressing pressure against buck member 10. A main spring 29serves to normally hold the head member in or to move it to the openposition shown in Fig. 1. Although the pressing head member 12 could bemanually lowered to light pressing contact, the usual mode of obtainingan initial contact is by actuating handle 30 on the press head member,which actuation causes pressure to be exerted by the power means 19 foradvancing the head member 12 toward the stationary buck member 10 andfor exerting a low pressing pressure against the stationary buck member10. Then, foot pedal 31 can be depressed to increase the pressingpressure exerted by the power means 19 as the head member 12 approachespressing contact with the buck member 10. As the pressing position isapproached, the toggle composed of bell crank 17 and toggle link 20approaches a straightened position to exert a force between the twopressing members 10 and 12. The foraminous pressing portion of each ofthese members is always heated by steam to effect the pressing operationso that when the pressing members 10 and 12 are in their closed positionpressing is performed. Inlet and outlet steam lines or pipes 32, 33supply the buck member 10 While flexible steam lines 34, 35 supply andexhaust the head member 12. Also, treating steam may be admitted throughthe perforated or foraminous pressing portion of the buck member throughsteam line 38 and admitted through the perforated or foraminous pressingportion of the head member by means of a conventional head steam valve36 in Fig. 2 that is operatable by means of a control lever 37 havingfinger bars 37a, 37b located behind and below the control handle 30 inFig. 1.

When it is desired to steam part of a garment by holding it under thehead member 12 when the press is in the Fig. 1 open position, the fingerbar 37b may be used to avoid inadvertent operation of the control handle30 to close the press. The steam to the buck member can be controlled bya foot operable pedal, similar to foot pedal 31, operable on the usualsteam valve (not shown). The foraminous upper portion of the buck member10 can communicate, if desired, through a line such as 38 with a sourceof vacuum under control of a conventional valve '(not shown).

When the power supply to the power means 19 is cut off, the head membermoves from the closed position, wherein it exerts a pressing pressureagainst the buck member 10, back'to the idle or normal open positionshown'in Fig. l. Spring 42 acts to start the opening movement bybreaking the almost straight toggle formed by bell crank 17 and togglelink 20 while main spring 29 continues the clockwise movement of thehead member 12 toward the open position and then holds the head memberin this open position shown in Fig. l.

A snubber 43, pivotally connected at opposite ends to the toggle link 20and bell crank 17 for controlling the movement of the press head member12, provides quiet and smooth operation of the press.

The present invention relates primarily to the power means 19 and thecontrols therefore responsive to the manual actuation of handle 30 onthe head member and foot pedal 31. These components provide not onlymeans operatively elfective for advancing the head member 12 toward theoperative or closed position and for exerting a low pressing pressurebetween pressing members 10 and 12 but also means operatively efiectivefor exerting a higher pressing pressure on the pressing members in theirclosed position after the head-member 12 approaches the closed position.Handle 30 provides a manual control for the first means while foot pedal31 provides the manual control for the second means.

Power means 19 in the present disclosure takes the form of a fluidpressure operated power means operable by any type of'pressure fluid,such as, compressed air, hydraulic liquid, etc. The control in Fig. 3,however, is structurally set up for using air pressure, but it should bereadily understood thatany other type pressure fluid can be usedinstead. Here, a single high air pressure source supplies air for bothlow and high pressure operation. The high air pressure source (notshown)can be connected to inlet air line 50, and then the air flow linebranches off into a low air or fluid pressure line and a high air orfluid pressure line with the low air pressure line operable by thecontrol handle 30 and the high'air pressure line operable by the footpedal 31. On the low air pressure line, the air pressure from the sourcegoes through a reducing valve 51, an air flow or needle valve 52 to beheld by a normally closed valve 57, a branch line 53 having a flexibleor rubber section 53a to permit relative movement between the upper andlower sections of air line 53 when the head member 12 swings between theclosed and open positions, and is heldby normally closed pilot valve 58.The pressure in the low air pressure line is indicated by pressuregauge-55. In the high air pressure line, air under'full-line pressuregoes by way of air line 59 to normally closed valve 60 where it is alsoheld until actuation of foot pedal 31.

Air pressure operated power means .19 includes a cylinder 63 pivotallymounted at its upper end to frame 11 and includes a piston 64reciprocably mounted therein and pivotally mounted at its lower end tothe leftward extending arm of hell crank' 17 in Fig. l. The pressurefluid normally acts on the upper face of the piston in Fig. 3 whichupper face serves as a working face. This piston reciprocates between afirst position, as shown in Fig. 3 corresponding to the normal, idle,open position with the head member 12 spaced from the fixed buck member10 in a manner shown in Fig. l, and a second position with the piston'64 at the lower end of the cylinder 63, corresponding to the closed,second or'working position with its pressing pressure being exertedagainst the buck member 10 by the pressing head member 12. However, whenpiston 64 reachesithe dot-dashline of Fig. 3, just past port 63a,thehead 12 is substantially in engagement with the buck 10.

A low air'pressure line 65 is connected to one end of the cylinder 63for fluid communication with the working face of piston 64 and a highair pressure line 66 is connected to the cylinder 63 by port 63a forfluid communication with the piston 64 therein. It should be readilyapparent that the low air pressure line, whenair pressure existstherein, will advance the pressing head member 12 toward its operativeclosed position and will then cause head member 10 to exert a lowpressing pressure on buck'member 10. The high air pressure line 66,

' being connected to the cylinder side wall at'port 63a intermediatebetween the extreme positions of the piston 64, cannot be used initiallyto advance the head member 12 to the closed position, but instead isused for exerting higher pressure on piston 64 only afterthe head member12 approaches the closed or second position after piston 64 passes theinlet port 63a so that pressing members 10 and 12 are substantially incontact before the higher pressure can be exerted on piston 64. Thus,only low pressure is available until the head is safely closed and thehigher pressing pressure can be exerted only when the press is closed.

The control means in Fig. 3 is operatively connected to both the low andhigh air pressure lines between the source of air pressure on air lineand the press actuating cylinder 63. This control'means individuallycontrols the air pressure flow between the 'high air pressure lines 59and 66 and between the. low air pressure lines from reducing valve 51 toline responsive to the actuation respectively of control handle 30 andfoot pedal 31 so as to 'oper atively connect either the low or the highair pressure source in fluid communication with power cylinder 63'at theproper time. p

The low air pressure flow is controlled by control handle 30 through apilot air valve 58 to cause closing of the press. As the operator pullsdown control handle 30, shaft and arm 71 secured thereto is rockedagainst the pull of spring 72 anchored at'its right end to head lever13. This movement of arm 71 opens pilot valve 58 against the biasof itsspring so that air from low air pressure line 53 is admitted to conduit73 for moving diaphragm 74 downwardly to open normally closed valve 57by a downward movement against the resilient bias of its spring. Thesmall pilot valve 58 is operated by a very light touch which permitsoperation by'control handle 30 and does not tire the operator. Inaddition, the air exhausted from the press actuating cylinder 63 doesnot have .to travel all the way back to and through pilot valve 58 butonly to valve 57 where it exhausts through exhaust port 57a therein, aswill be brought out in more detail hereinafter. The exhaust fromdiaphragm 74 travels through line 73 to leave the pilot valve 58 throughexhaust port 58a.

When the normally closed valve 57 is opened by the diaphragm 74, lowpressure air travels from needle valve 52 through airline '75 to a slidepiston type valve 76. The valve piston 76a, normally being held in theFig. 3 position' byspring 77, permits the air to go from air line 75 athrough the low air pressure valve ports 76e and 76b to low air pressure'line' 65'a'nd the cylinder 63. Then, 'low 'air pressurenioves thepiston 64 downwardly to advance pressing head member 12 from the openposition in Fig. 1 to light pressing engagement with the buck member andthe garment to be pressed thereon. When piston 64 passes downwardlybelow the port 63a as the press closes, low pressure air travels throughline 66 to valve port 76c of slide piston type valve 76 wherein it isheld since valve piston 76a is urged downwardly by spring 77 with itsbottom seat blocking valve port 76d.

When it is desired to exert extra pressure on the work being pressed,foot pedal 31 is depressed to open the normally closed valve 66 againstthe resilient bias of its spring. Then, air under full line or high airpressure goes to the bottom inlet port 76d of slide piston type valve76. The difference in pressure on the bottom and top faces of valvepiston 76a causes the valve piston to move upwardly in Fig. 3 againstthe resistance of the low air pressure and of spring 77 to close the lowair pressure inlet valve port 76e. This upward movement of the valvepiston 76a uncovers the high air pressure valve port 766 so that highpressure air can travel from the line 59 through the open valve 69,through high air pressure valve ports 76d and 76c, line 66, through port63a and into the cylinder 63 above the working face of piston 64.Although this high pressure air backs up through the low air pressureinlet line 65, it is held at the slide piston type valve 76 since thelow air pressure inlet valve port 76c is now closed since the valvepiston 76a firmly seals this port.

The opposite ends of the valve piston 76a provide individual flowclosures, one for the high air pressure line and one for the low airpressure line, that are interlocked so that when either is closed theother is open but spring 77 normally keeps the low air pressure lineclosure open when no air is passing through the slide piston type valve76. p

This control has several advantages. First, to assure safety duringpress operation the structure described prevents the advance of the headmember 12 from the elevated open position in Fig. 1 toward the closedposition when the high air pressure control pedal 31 is depressed. Thepress cannot be closed under high pressure by actuation of the footpedal 31. When the foot pedal is depressed, high pressure air raises thevalve piston 76a to enter the cylinder by the side port 63a below thepiston 64 to thus hold the piston in its Fig. 3 position and to hold thepress open while the air bleeds out through a vent at the bottom of thecylinder 63. The amount of venting, determined by the size of the vent,is such that the pressure on the bottom of the piston 64 is at leastequal to that exerted on the top even though some venting occurs. Thiscan be assured either by building up sufficient pressure below thepiston 64 or by moving piston 76a upwardly to partially or completelyclose port 762. Second, to assure safety during press operation, it isalso impossible to cause the press to close even by actuation of the lowair pressure control handle 31 while the high air pressure control pedal31 is depressed. The valve piston 76a is forced upwardly by the highpressure air to close the low air pressure inlet valve port 76c toprevent the admission of low pressure air to the top part of cylinder 63above the piston 64. Therefore, the pressing head member 12 cannot belowered out of its normal, idle, open position shown in Fig. 1. Third,the structure will keep the pressing head member 12 in the closedposition in pressing contact with the buck member 10 when the low airpressure control handle 30 is released if the high air pressure controlpedal 31 remains depressed. The control handle 39 may be released, ifdesired, because the low air pressure inlet valve port 76e is closed byvalve piston 76a so that the low pressure air serves no useful functionin holding the pressing members 10 and 12 together. The pressing headmember 12 will be held closed under high pressure so-long as the footpedal 31 is held in the depressed position. This is a desirable featuresince it has been customary for press operators to thus release thecontrol handle 30 on the head lever of the standard manual, footoperated press to momentarily rest their arms while the garment is heldunder high pressure. Fourth, the operator cannot insert his fingersbetween the pressing members during high pressure operation. It shouldbe noted that head member 12 is substantially in contact with buckmember 10 when piston 64 passes inlet port 63a so that the operatorcannot insert his fingers between the pressing members at the time thehigher pressure becomes eflective.

Release of the pressing head member 12 from the working position whereinit exerts a pressing pressure against the stationary buck member 10 forreturn to the idle or normal open position shown in Fig. 1 is easilyaccomplished by exhausting the air from within cylinder 63. Springs 29and 42, in elevating the pressing head member 12 to the normal openposition shown in Fig. 1, also force the piston 64 upwardly to exhaustthe air entrapped in the cylinder 63. If the press is being held closedunder light pressure by only control handle 39, release of this handleallows the valve 57 to move to its normally closed position so that theair from cylinder 63 is exhausted through air line 65, slide piston typevalve 76, air line 75 and out the exhaust port 57a of valve 57, whichexhaust port is open when the valve is in its normal, closed position.However, if only the foot pedal 31 is being depressed, the release ofthe pedal with the consequent closing of valve 60 to its normal positioncauses a momentary exhaust of the air through its then open exhaust port60a but when the valve piston 76a returns under the influence of spring77 to its lower seat to close off high pressure inlet valve port 76d,the air in cylinder 63 is exhausted through the upper part of slidepiston type valve 76 by air lines 65 and 75 to normally closed valve 57and out its normally open exhaust port 57a.

It should be noted that the cylinder 63 exhausts through the same linesused for providing the cylinder with high and low pressure air butexhausting is operative only when the flow controller valves 57 and 66are both closed to cut of]? air flow pressure through both lines fromthe pressure source. A review of the foraging description will alsoreveal that the structure prevents the exhausting of cylinder 63 throughone of the pressure lines, either the low pressure or high pressureline, when air pressure is admitted to the cylinder 63 by only the otherof said lines. Therefore, piston 64 can be subjected to either low orhigh pressure without any retarding effect by the other pressure line.

It should now be apparent that the press of the present invention may beoperated to exert either a low or high pressing pressure between thepressing members 10 and 12, whichever is desired. Both the high and lowpressing pressures are exerted by a single cylinder 63 and a singlepiston 64 to provide a compact unit when the flow controller meanscomprising air valves 57 and 60, pilot valve 58 and slide piston typevalve 76 are operated properly. However, it should be readily apparentthat power means 19 can consist of either a cylinder means and pistonmeans with one cylinder and one piston, as described heretofore, or acylinder means and piston means with two cylinders and two pistons, onecylinder and piston unit for high pressure and the other unit for lowpressure operation. The latter can be used after suitable modificationshave been made in the control of the present invention. However, thepresent structure described heretofore with only one cylinder and pistonis much simpler and is to be preferred.

Various changes in details and arrangement of parts can be made by oneskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this inventionor the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an idle first position spaced fromsaid buck member to a working second position'exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a first means on said press operativelyefiective for advancing said head-member toward said second position andfor exerting a low pressing pressure onsaid members, a second means onsaid press operatively ineffective for advancing said head member fromsaid first position towardsaid second position but effective forexerting a higher pressing pressure on said members when said secondposition than'said low pressing pressure of said first mentioned means,means on said press for automatically deactivating said first means inresponse to activation of said second means and before said second meansexerts a higher pressing pressure on said members and means on saidpress -for'keeping said head member in said second position when saidfirst means is deactivated.

2. A press'for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an idle first position spaced fromsaid buck member to a working-second position exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a fluid pressure operated means for movingsaid head member from said first to said second position, means foroperatively connecting a low fluid pressure source in fluidcommunication with said fluid pressure operated means when said headmember is in the first position for exerting a force for advancing saidhead member toward said second position and for exerting a low pressingpressure on said members, means for operatively connecting a high,fluid'pressure' source in fluid communication with said fluid pressureoperated means for exerting a higher pressing pressure on saidmembers'when in said second position than'said low pressing pressure ofsaid low fluid pressure source, means on said press for keeping saidhead member in said second position when said low pressure source isdeactivated, and valve means on'said press operable by said'higherpressure for preventing the advance of said head member from said idlefirst position by said low fluid pressure when said high fluid pressureis activated.

3. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an idle first position spaced fromsaid buck member to a working second position exterting pressingpressure against said buck member, a fluid pressure operated cylindermeans and piston means for moving said head member from said first tosaid second position withsaid piston means having a working facercciprocable in said cylinder means between first andsecond positionscorresponding to the first and second positions of said head member, alow fluid pressure line connected to said cylinder means in fluidcommunication with said piston means working face in the first positionfor exerting a force on said piston means for advancing said head membertoward said second position and for exerting a low pressing pressure onsaid members, a high fiuid pressure line operatively connected to saidcylinder means side wall in fluid communication with said piston meansWorking face when it is located between said first and second positionsfor exerting a higher pressure on said piston means working face aftersaid head member approaches said's econd position so that a hi herpressing pressure is exerted between the members in the closed secondposition than said low pressing pressure, means on said press forkeeping said head member in said second position when said low pres sureline is deactiated, and piston valve means 'on said press for preventingthe advance of said head member from said first idle position by saidlow pressure when said high pressure is activated,and control-means forindividually controlling thefiuid flow'in said high and low pressurelines.

4. A press for finishing garments comprising a-pressing buckmember, ahead'member mounted for movement from an idle first position spaced fromsaid buck member to a working second position exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a fluid pressure operated cylinder and pistonfor moving said head member from said first to said second position withsaid piston having a working face reciprocable in said cylinder betweenfirst and second positions corresponding to the first and secondpositions or" said head member, a low fluid pressure line operativelyconnected to said cylinder in fluid communication with said pistonWorking face in the first position for exerting a force on said pistonfor advancing said head member toward said second position and forexerting a low pressing pressure on said members, a high fluid pressureline operatively connected to said cylinder side wall in fluidcommunication with said piston working face when it is located betweensaid first and second positions for exerting a higher pressure onsaidpiston working face after said head member approaches said secondposition so that a higher pressing pressure is exerted between themembers in the closed second position than said low pressing pressure,and control means operatively connected to both the low and highpressure lines between the source of pressure for each line and thecylinder, said control means including a flow controller means forselectively and individually admitting or cutting ofl fluid flowpressure through each individual line to said cylinder,including'cylinder exhaust means operative only when said flowcontroller means cut an fluid flow pressure through both lines.

5. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an idle firsttposition spaced fromsaid buck member to a Working second position exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a fluid pressure operated cylinder means andpiston means for moving said head member from said first to said secondposition with said piston means having a working face recipro cable insaid cylinder means between first and second positions corresponding tothe first and second positions of said head member, a low fluid pressureline operatively connected to said cylinder means influid communicationwith said piston means working face in the first position for exerting aforce on said piston'means for advancingsaid head member toward saidsecond position and for exerting a low pressing pressure on saidmembers, a high fluid pressure line operatively connected to saidcylinder means in fluid communication with said piston means workingface when it is located between said first and second positions forexerting a higher pressure on said piston means working face after saidhead member approaches-said second position so that a higher pressingpressure is exerted between the members in the closed second positionthan said low pressing pressure, means for keeping said head member insaid second position when said low pressure line is deactivated, andmeans for preventing the advance of said head member from said firstidle position by said low pressure when said higher pressure isactivated, 'andcontrol means operatively connected to both the low andhigh pressure lines between the source of pressure for each line and thecylinder means for controlling pressure fluid flow to said cylindermeans, said control means including a flow controller meansforindividually admitting or cutting ofl fluid flow pressure through eachindividual line to said cylinder means, including cylinder exhaust meansoperative only when said flow controller means cuts ofi fluid flowpressure through both lines.

6. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an-idle first position-spaced fromsaid buck member to a working second position exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a 'fluid pressure operated means for movingsaid head member from said first to said second position, a lowfluid;pressureline operatively effective upon said fluid pressure operatedmeans when said head member is in the first position for exerting aforce for advancing said head member toward said second position and forexerting a low pressing pressure on said members, a high fluid pressureline operatively effective upon said pressure operated means forexerting a higher pressing pressure on said members when in said secondposition than said low pressing pres sure of said low fluid pressureline, and control means operatively connected to both the low and highpressure lines between the source of pressure for each line and thefluid pressure operated means, said control means including a flowcontroller means for individually admitting or cutting off fluid flowpressure through each individual line to said fluid pressure operatedmeans, including exhaust means for said fluid pressure operated meansfor exhausting through said lines and operative only when said flowcontroller means cuts off fluid flow pressure through both lines, andincluding means for preventing exhausting of said fluid pressureoperated means through one of said lines when fluid pressure is admittedto said fluid pressure operated means by only the other of said lines.

7. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an idle first position spaced fromsaid buck member to a working second position exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a fluid pressure operated cylinder and pistonfor moving said head member from said first to said second position withsaid piston having a working face reciprocable in said cylinder betweenfirst and second positions corresponding to the first and secondpositions of said head member, a low fluid pressure line operativelyconnected to said cylinder in fluid communication with said pistonworking face in the first position for exerting a force on said pistonfor advancing said head member toward said second position and forexerting a low pressing pressure on said members, a high fluid pressureline operatively connected to said cylinder side wall in fluidcommunication with said piston working face when it is located betweensaid first and second positions for exerting a higher pressure on saidpiston working face after said head member approaches said secondposition so that a higher pressing pressure is exerted between themembers in the closed second position than said low pressing pressure,and control means operatively connected to both the low and highpressure lines between the source of pressure for each line and thecylinder, said control means including a flow controller means forindividually admitting or cutting off fluid flow pressure through eachindividual line to said cylinder, including cylinder exhaust meansthrough said lines operative only when said flow controller means cutsoff fluid flow pressure through both lines, and including means forpreventing exhausting of said cylinder through one of said lines whenfluid pressure is being admitted to said cylinder by only the other ofsaid lines.

8. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an idle first position spaced fromsaid buck member to a working second position exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a fluid pressure operated cylinder and pistonfor moving said head member from said first to said second position withsaid piston having a working face reciprocable in said cylinder betweenfirst and second positions of said head member, a low fluid pressureline operatively connected to said cylinder in fluid communication withsaid piston working face in the first position for exerting a force onsaid piston for advancing said head member toward said second positionand for exerting a low pressing pressure on said members, a high fluidpressure line operatively connected to said cylinder side wall in fluidcommunication with said piston working face when it is located be- V v V10 tween said first and second positions" for exerting a higher pressureon said piston workingface after said head member approaches said secondposition so that a higher pressing pressure is exerted between themembers in the closed second position than said low pressing pres sure,and control means operatively connected to both the low and highpressure lines between the source of pressure for each line and thecylinder, said control means including a flow controller means forindividually admitting or cutting off fluid flow pressure through eachindividual line to said cylinder, said flow controller means includingan individual flow closure for each pressure line and interlocking meansoperatively connecting said flow closures whereby when either flowclosure is closed the other is open, said interlocking means beingnormally positioned so that the low pressure line flow closure is open.

9. In a pressing machine having relatively movable head and buckpressing members normally in open position and a cylinder and pistonmotor operatively connected between said members for causing relativeclosing movement of said members; the combination therewith of sourcesof higher and lower pressure fluid, conduit means connecting said lowerpressure fluid source with the working face of said piston when saidpressing members are in open position, a port through the wall of saidcylinder uncovered to the working face of said piston only when saidpiston is in position corresponding to a substantially closed positionof said pressing members, conduit means connecting said higher pressurefluid source with said port, a control valve in each of said conduitmeans, a piston valve having a chamber common to both of said conduitmeans, a valve piston reciprocable in said chamber, said conduit meansconnected with said two sources respectively communicating with oppositefaces of said valve piston, and said valve piston having two positionswhere it respectively closes off one or the other of said sources whileestablishing communication with the source not stopped.

10. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for move ment from an idle first position spacedfrom said buck member to a working second position exerting pressingpressure against said buck member, a fluid pressure operated cylindermeans and piston means for moving said head member from said first tosaid second position with said piston means having a working facereciprocable in said cylinder means between first and second positionscorresponding to the first and second positions of said head member, alow fluid pressure line connected to said cylinder means in fluidcommunication with said piston means working face in the first positionfor exerting a force on said piston means for advancing said head membertoward said second position and for exerting a low pressing pressure onsaid members, a high fluid pressure line operatively connected to saidcylinder means side wall in fluid communication with said piston meansworking face when it is located between said first and second positionsfor exerting a higher pressure on said piston means working face aftersaid head member approaches said second position so that a higherpressing pressure is exerted between the members in the closed secondposition than said low pressing pressure, valve means for cutting offflow through said low fluid pressure line, and means for automaticallyclosing said valve means in response to exertion of said higher pressureagainst said piston means.

11. A press for finishing garments comprising a pressing buck member, ahead member mounted for movement from an idle first position spaced fromsaid buck member to a working second position exerting pressing pressureagainst said buck member, a fluid pressure operated means for movingsaid head member from said first to said second position, means foroperatively connecting a low fluid pressure source in fluidcommunication with said fluid 11 pressure operated means when said headmember is in the first position for exertingafo'rce for advancing saidhead member toward said second position and for exerting a low' pressingpressure on said members, means'for opera tively connecting a high fluidpressure source influid communication with said fluid pressure operatedmeans for exerting a higher pressing pressure on-said members when insaid second position than said low pressing pressure of said 10W fluidpressure source, and means for automatically cutting ofi said 10w fluidpressuresource'from said fluid pressure operated means in response toexertion of said higher pressing pressure-in saidfluid pressure operatedmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LeachJune 25, 1867 Vaile Nov. 26, 1889 Gregoire Sept. 9; 1930 Bausman Mar.28, 1932 Davis Sept. 4, 1934 Davis 'Mar. 31, 1936 Davis "Apr. 26, 1938Sinclair Apr. 18, 193

